Insulated panel



4,. 1953 R. c. PARKEs INSULATED PANEL Filed on. 27, 1955' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

RALPH C. PARKES ATTORNEY March 4, W58 R. c. PARKES 2,825,432

INSULATED PANEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1955 =o lNVENTOR.

RALPH C. PARKES ATTORNEY March 4; 1958 R. C. PARKES INSULATED PANEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27, 1955 N om ATTORNEY United States Patent 9 INSULATED PANEL Ralph C. Parkes, Glenside, Pa.

Application October 27, 1955. Serial No. 543,208

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) My invention relates to an insulated panel adapted to be used in building the walls, or the roofs, of various enclosures, such as heated or cooled chambers, or of the walls or roofs of ordinary buildings or wherever lightness, rigidity and minimum heat transfer are required.

One object of the invention is to produce an improved panel of the type set forth.

In order to minimize the cost of fabrication of individual panels and the cost of assembling or mounting them to form the desired enclosure, the panels should be made relatively large. But, if panels of this type are made relatively large, they will sag and warp even though they are made of a relatively heavy gauge metal.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to produce an improved panel which can be made relatively large and of relatively light gauge metal, but which will not sag or warp.

A still further object is to produce an improved panel which can be mass-produced and which is interchangeable, side to side and end to end whereby production and assembly costs are reduced.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the following specifications and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a reduced, highly diagrammatic top plan view of the two panels showing one embodiment of my invention only the outline of the panels and the outline of only some of the parts inside the panels being shown.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view looking in the direction of line 22 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, vertical, sectional view looking in the direction of line 33 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2, but showing a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 3, but showing the panels of said second embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view taken on line 6-6 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a vertical, sectional view, showing the panels of Fig. 5 in their assembled position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, perspective, exploded view showing the assembling and reinforcing members which are shown at the ends of Figs. 3, 5 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic, isometric view illustrating the manner in which the panels of my invention resist the stresses to which they are subjected in actual use.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, each panel is formed of an outer sheet 16 and an inner sheet 18 with insulation 20 therebetween. The ends of the panels are closed by means of plates or sheets 22, which are flanged outwardly at 23 and are secured to the edges of sheets 16 and 18 by rivets or the like 24, as best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6. Sheets 16 and 18 may be made of aluminum or of stainless steel or other material.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, one end 28 of outer sheet 16 of panel A is bent downwardly and laterally inwardly and cooperates with the corresponding upwardly and laterally outwardly bent end 30 of sheet 18, to form an upper,,reduced, overhanging pocket which is generally referred to be reference character 32. The adjacent end 34 of outer sheet 16 of adjacent panel B is bent downwardly and laterally outwardly and cooperates with corresponding upwardly and laterally inwardly bent end 36 of inner sheet 18 to form a pocket which is generally referred to by reference character 38 and which, when the panels are assembled will underlie overhanging pocket 32 as shown in outline in the center of Fig. 2. Since the junctions of all panels of this embodiment are the same as that described for the adjacent, overlapping junctions of panels A and B, it is believed unnecessary tov further illustrate or describe this particular feature.

In order to make it possible to produce relatively large panels of relatively light gauge sheet metal which will not sag or warp, I have devised a novel construction which resembles a truss in its rigidity and its torque resisting characteristics. According to my invention, I place reinforcing and clamping blocks 40 of Fig. 8 in the corresponding sides of panels A and B and I place similar blocks 42 in the opposite corresponding sides of said panels. From Fig. 8 it will be seen that blocks 40 and 42 are L-shaped and from Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that blocks 40 and 42 assume the same relation in the assembled panels that they do in Fig. 8. In other words, the left hand overhanging portion of block 40 is enclosed in upper, overhanging pocket 32 of panel A and the right hand underlying portion of block 42 is enclosed in underlying pockets 38 of panel B. Blocks 40 and 42 are provided with through holes for receiving bolts 46 which secure the overlapping sides of panels A and B together. The inner ends of bolts 46 may pass through suitably spaced angles or girders 48 which constitute a supporting frame for a wall or roof built of these panels. It will be noted that the outer ends of bolts 46 threadedly engage nuts 50 which are placed in recesses which are spaced from outer sheets 16 so as to produce an unbroken, leak proof outer surface and to reduce thermal conductivity to the outer sheet. By this arrangement bolts 46 can be threaded into the nuts after being passed through angles 48 and blocks 42. It will also be seen that the edges 52 and 54 of outer and inner sheets 16 and 18 of panel A engage groove 56 in block 40 and that corresponding edges 58 and 60 of inner and outer sheets 16 and 18 of panel B engage groove 62 in block 42. Therefore, when the panels are assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, the marginal portions of inner and outer sheets 16 and 18 which terminate in edges 52, 54, 58 and 60 will be clamped between the flat surfaces 64 and 66 of blocks 40 and 42.

In order to minimize metal to metal contact and, hence, heat transmission, I place a heat insulating sheet 70 between blocks 40 and 42 and the contiguous portions of sheets 16 and 18 as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to tension outer and inner sheets 16 and 18 in the direction of their widths, I provide spaced turn buckles each of which consists of a hub adapted to abut a block 42 and a screw 74 threadedly engaging hub 72 and having a flange 76 for abutting a block 40. Blocks 40 and 42 are provided with through holes 78 through which a screw driver, or other tool, may be inserted to I turn screw 74 in a direction to spread blocks 40 and 42 apart and thus tension sheets 16 and 18. The provision of holes 78 makes it possible to tension the sheets of each panel after it is completely formed and after one side of such panel has been securely clamped to the previous panel.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that blocks 40 and 42 and turn buckles 72 are placed at intervals along the length of the panels, the distance between adjacent blocks being determined by the requirements of each case.

The construction thus far described is operative, but, for certain cases, it is desirable further to reinforce the construction-Hy meansofrigid angles 80 which can extendthelength of the panel'or which may be long enough to be engaged by the spacedfadjacent blocks 40 and 42. Angles 80 serve to transmit the .tensionrappliedetor blocks 40jandf42by turnbucklejz totthef areaslof snee s' mandr 5 18* which; are-fengagedfby. the angle irons; Ihiswcan'bei readiljgnseenjfom aninspeertoncringe lian 'a; I

l The'jstr'ucture; ofFigs 4"and 5', th'esame as tliattofr Fig l'jex'c'ept that in; this embodir'nent, panel .A"Iiscp ro-. vided with overhangingpo'ckets 8'24 amistrep receiving block's fi' which correspond Zto blocksv40r and panelBf is provided'iwitli tunderlyiiigpocketsiorr receiving/blocks ililicwhich Vcorrespond ,to. blocks 42; Therefore,lexceptl for the" fact thatf the" overhanging i orunderl ying marginal portions, arejon the same side ofzthe' panel, ,insteadloff t being'diagonally di'sflosei' th'erstructnre .oftltliefembodir ment, ofFigsA' andjS is; the same cas thatof the ,em- 7 bodiinent of'FigsI l to 31' In both embodiments, the: eng I Sfl'and 58 jand' 60witli grooves 56 and152 and 'the. clamp,- ing o'ftherportions of-i'she'etsj'd and'ls adjacentathese edges between surfaces 64 and 66T oflblock's ,40l and:42,. effectively snub sheets 16 and 18 andresis't any force tend-v ingj topull'shee't 16; or sheet-181ofjpanelrA-or of panel Bapart: i

Also; a force exertedfon the inner. side. of the'panel in.

'a' rdirecjtion paralll to the axis ofibolt 4'6'fwillrtendsto; separate the; outside abutting edges" of. adjacent panels, arfd'jvice'versa; Butb'ecause-blocks 40 and 42 are bolted.

Pto'gethenjthe, force exertedm'ust be'enou'gh to'deform,

or ibre'akflone"; or both of jthelbloclrs beforeriseparationor deformation ofihe-panels can take place.

1 Sheets [61 and I8 are, in efiect, thefopposi'tewsides of: a beam andQtherefbre, a force which tends to; p'ut sheet.

' 161' into compressiomwill. tend'tofput sheet '18 into ten@ stress in thefdirection of'arrows Y11and'-Y -2;.tliat,

when sheet 1f6-is' subjected to 'a vertical load; as: viewed. in

Fig. 9; itflwillflhe subjectedto compressivei cornponent.in.

the dir'flction ofar'rows Y;3I and Y 4 and that, when sheet 16;is;snbjected1to a tensilaloadi'in the direction of- "arrows "P-land P-'-2 i'tCwillI be subjectedlto-compressive load in .thefdirection-of arrows C andB In other words,

' the blo'cks 40"andr'42V-and/.ort angles' 80 serve asthe sides e and thetensiohed portion ofi'the sheet tthe'rebetweenrserves.

asthe diagonal member-of a'trnsswhicli efiectively'resistse the tendency ofwtlieflpane'l to buckle in the direction. of Y4; or; in the direction of. arrows C.

arrOWsLVY -S ,a'nd

andB." ,7 7 V A This application isa' continuation in partof my pend-. ing applicatiofixsen No. 407,308}filed- February 1; 1954, entitledInsulated' Panel. r,

WhatIclaimiSz J t w a w r 1 1. An insulated; panel. including a first-, relativelythin sheet, a second relatively: thinrsheeteparallelrtog, spaced.-

gemenr of edgesrs landl second marginal portions of reduced thickness extending 1 a from, and cooperating with, said'fi'rst sheet to format body portion of a p1"edete'rmiiledtliifk'riessmidifii'stiaiid' along the opposite ends of said body portion, the combined thicknesses of 'said first and second marginal fportions being substantially equal to the thickness of said body portion, whereby, when a number of panels are car- I ranged in contiguousco=planarpositions1with the'first panel and having an enlarged portion snugly fitting in marginal portion offeach' panelioverlapping the'second marginal portion ofan adjacent panel, a wall of uniform 1 a thickness is producedg a'first blocleha'ving a'reduced por tion snugly fitting in ath'eznfirstfmarg-inal portionofthe the body portionof'the'panel, a -secondi block having a reduced portion snugly fitting within the second marginal t jportio'n and having an enlarged portion snugly"fitting' within the body portion of the panel, and an expans'ible memberlocated between the. enlarged portion.--'of i said ifirsttzand :secondrblocks rand; pushing:- said: blockseapartito x V tension said. sheets; there: being: holes.-i n, the; reducedportions 7 of; saidtzfirstt and second blocks;- for; receiving; bolts. to clamp; thefirst andsecond marginal portions of? assembled panels togetherg and Q recesses in thesides of said blocks facing said sheets and accommodating 'nu'ts to. s v s d bolts; 7 V

' 2. An: assembly" of. panels each ctr-which; includes? a 7 first sheet; a: second" sheetparallel:- to, spaced from, and" I coacting; with, said first sheet'to' form aebody portion.

of v a predeterminedathickness and firstt and second amare ginal portions ofrafreduced thickness cntendingjalong the 1 OPPOSl-tB eQKlS ofrsaid'bodyportion, with thefirst' reduced V marginali' portion-t of each panel overlapping a second marginalneduced. portion of an: adjacent panel, a ,first' block in the first marginal portion of each panel, asecond block.-in--the second marginal portion of each panelg the thicknesses of said: block-s 'beingsubstantially equal" tov thethicknesses of the respective marginal portions an;

" expansion member located between the blocksfintthe p i As will'be seen-from diagramn'iaticlFig. 9:, whichfmay posite reduced marginal -.portions of each'panel and pushing said blocks apart to tension said first and second sheets, means clamping said first and second blocks to- J gethcr to secure theoverlapping portions; (if-said first and second sheets of ,eachtpanel together andito the respective first and second: sheets of adjacentv panels wherebjtpres i sure appliedrtov-a first slie'e,t of one of said assembled 7 panels will :be transmitted-tome; second sheet ofsaid'panel f and to the first and second sheets.- of "said assembled 7 7 panels a nd means securingthe portionssof said first-. and i a 7 second zsheets wllich form the a marginal reduced portions} along theputer ends of the outermost oftsaid assembled panels to a rigid extraneous support 3. The. structure recited-.- in qclaim entire areamii-said walli t t 4. The structure recited-in;claiin g 2}invi hioliaeaclii'ofi; saidrblocks also includesa portion locatedinethe bod'yof the. panel; the thickness;of said blocle being substantiallyr equal to the thickness ofitherbody (lithe/panel.

I V References 'Cited ir'rjtne *file 'ofithis'fpatent' i V s j UNITEDgSiAIEQZPATENlTS 15703551" Aulda A r. a 1929 2447, 272... earkesrrure nunt rAn e-11,. 194st aud-an elongated rigid member placed between a block and-gtheaadjacent, r marginalavalLtoreinforce-said wallrandto distributethe concentrated pressure'exerted by said-:blocks over th e r V 

